Megalops atlanticus
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Elopiformes (Tarpons and Tenpounders)
Megalopidae (Tarpons)
Megalops
Megalops atlanticus (Tarpon)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Elongate, moderately slender, and compressed body; superior mouth; deeply forked caudal fin; snout 5-6% SL; branchiostegal rays 23-27; gill rakers 19-21 and 36-40 on upper and lower limbs of first gill arch; pelvic fin axil anterior to dorsal fin origin; dorsal fin origin about midway between eye anterior margin and caudal fin base, with 13-16 rays; anal fin origin posterior to dorsal fin base, with 22-25 rays; vertebrae 53-57; lateral scale rows 41-48; single axillary scales at base of pectoral and pelvic fins
Silvery bluish or greenish dorsally and silvery laterally and ventrally
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Antilles
Habitat Associations
Tropical to warm temperate waters; inshore marine, fresh, and brackish waters; depth range not specified
Young specimens more common in fresh and brackish waters than adults
Biology
Adults feed exclusively on fishes (anchovies, silversides, cutlassfishes, mullets); young feed on insects, copepods, ostracods, shrimps, and fishes
Maximum known size is about 240 cm TL; smallest known juvenile is 25.2 mm SL
Spawning takes place offshore during late spring and summer in the Gulf of Mexico; leptocephalous larvae have 54-57 total myomeres, 40-43 preanal myomeres, and 37-42 predorsal myomeres at 9.4-22 mm SL
Inhabit coastal waters, bays, estuaries, mangrove-lined lagoons, and rivers (Ref. 3789, 27188). Often found in river mouths and bays, entering fresh water (Ref. 27227). Lower depth limit at 40m (Ref. 118621). Large schools may frequent particular spots for years (Ref. 9710). Feed on fishes like sardines, anchovies, Mugilidae, Centropomus, Cichlidae (mainly those forming schools) and crabs (Ref. 3789, 27188). The swim bladder, attached to the esophagus, can be filled directly with air and permits the fish to live in oxygen-poor waters. Has high fecundity, a 203 cm female is estimated to produce over 12 million eggs (Ref. 10863). Spawn in waters which can be temporarily isolated from the open sea (Ref. 27188). Transparent leptocephalus larvae migrate into estuaries (Ref. 57533). Famous for its spectacular leaps when hooked. Marketed fresh or salted (Ref. 3789). Large scales are used in ornamental work and in preparation of artificial pearls (Ref. 3789). Used to be cultured commercially in Colombia (Ref. 7306). Highly appreciated by sport fishers. The flesh is also highly appreciated despite its being bony (Ref. 27188). The world record for hook and line is 283 lbs. from Lake Maricaibo, Venezuela (Ref. 13442).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2018-06-12. Resilience: Low (K=0.07-0.10; tmax=55; Fec>1 million).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by a combination of characters
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums.
References
Gunter 1945
Wade 1962
Hildebrand 1963a
Hoese and Moore 1977
Jones et al. 1978a
Lee et al. 1980
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Boschung 1992
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Schneider, W. (1990) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the commercial marine resources of the Gulf of Guinea. Prepared and published with the support of the FAO Regional Office for Africa. Rome: FAO. 268 p.
Bauchot, M.-L. (1990) Megalopidae. p. 90-91. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy. G. G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. tome 1. Faune Trop. 28.
Hureau, J.-C. (1984) Megalopidae. p. 226-227. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 1.
Whitehead, P.J.P. and R. Vergara R. (1978) Megalopidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). Vol. 3. [pag. var.] FAO, Rome.
Bauchot, M.L. (2003) Megalopidae. p. 116-117. In D. Paugy, C. Lévêque and G.G Teugels (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa Volume 1. Coll. faune et flore tropicales 40. Institut de recherche de développement, Paris, France, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Musée royal de l'Afrique Central, Tervuren, Belgium, 457p.
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